Robots with life-like human expressions have finally landed - and they look like Harry Enfield's famous Scouser characters.

This as yet unnamed machine, unveiled at the Taipei International Robot Show (TIROS) in Taiwan, is seen here mimicking the facial expressions of a human.

Produced by the electrical engineering department of the National Taiwan University, the robot consists of a life-sized head and torso only, and was designed to show basic human emotions for better interaction with people.

Lifelike expressions: This unnamed robot is able to mimic human emotions such as surprise, anger, sadness and joy

It seems this one might interact particularly well with the people of Liverpool - or at least Harry Enfield's much-loved comic versions of Liverpudlians - but other machines unveiled at the exhibition had more obvious uses.

TIROS also hosted the global debut of a robot capable of playing the piano with both hands, which marks a milestone in robotic development.

'Up to now, other types of robots have used only one finger to play the piano,' said Enid Tsai, spokeswoman for Hiwin Technologies Corp.

'Our robot uses 10 fingers and can play a complex melody.'

Music maestro, please: The two-handed piano-playing robot was given its worldwide debut at TIROS

Boogie on down: Judges watch robots dance in formation

Some 300 exhibitors from 66 technology companies are taking part in the four-day exhibition at the Taipei World Trade Center in northern Taiwan.

Other robots on show were able to mimic more complex human movements, such as dancing, while some were able to play games against people and one had been designed specifically to speak stock exchange updates.

The aim for roboteers is to create androids that are able to operate seemlessly in human society, as well as in industry.

Talkative: This robot named Julia can provide the stocks index, weather report and play music Cd's

Japanese scientists recently developed a robot to aid people with mild dementia.

The machine recognises the face and voice of its 'master' and is able to give verbal reminders about things such as appointments and the times to take medicines.

In his opening speech, TIROS Vice President Vincent Siew called 2010 'the year of the robot' and said he expects the precision engineering that drives robotics to become a trillion dollar industry for Taiwan.

'Robots can also be used in the service industry, such as in the medical-care sector, especially when the population is aging,' said Mr Siew.

'Given the thriving development of the local sector, I expect Taiwan’s robotics industry to ... become the country’s next sector with an annual output exceeding NT$1 trillion,' he said.

Share or comment on this article:

Robot with realistic human expressions unveiled at Taipei International Robot Show